Holly plant named &#39;hachfee&#39;

ABSTRACT

A female holly plant named ‘Hachfee’ having an upright pyramidal growth habit, serrated glossy leaves, glossy red berries, and tolerance to temperatures to −25° C.

CLASSIFICATION

[0001]Ilex meservae

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

[0002] ‘Hachfee’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofIlex meservae (holly) known by the varietal name ‘Hachfee’. The newvariety was discovered in 1998 in a selected breeding program inBarmstedt, Germany and is a selection from the cross of the unpatentedvariety of Ilex aquitolium ‘Pyramidalis’ and the Ilex meservae variety‘Blue Prince’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,517).

[0004] The plant was first asexually reproduced by cuttings inBarmstedt, Germany in October 1997 and has been asexually reproduced bycuttings in Barmstedt, Germany. The distinguishing features of this newcultivar are stable and reproduce true to type in successivepropagations.

[0005] The following traits are determined to be basic characteristicsof this new cultivar which in combination distinguish this variety asnew and distinct:

[0006] 1. Upright, pyramidal habit.

[0007] 2. Excellent hardiness to −25° C.

[0008] 3. Typical bluish, green bark.

[0009] 4. Very glossy leaves, serrated not pricking.

[0010] 5. Strong grower, at least 50 up to 80 cm per year for the femalevariety.

[0011] The following characteristics distinguish over the new varietyfrom its parents as well as ‘Blue Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,675)and the unpatented variety ‘Blue Stallion’.

[0012] 1. Branches grow more upright as a young plant.

[0013] 2. Faster growing than ‘Blue Princess’.

[0014] 3. Less trimming required.

[0015] 4. Forms a close hedge more quickly.

[0016] 5. Large glossy red berries.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the newcultivar, the color being as nearly true as possible with colorillustrations of this type. The photographs were taken under naturallight conditions in Barmstedt, Germany.

[0018]FIG. 1 shows the tree, 8 years old, about 180 cm tall;

[0019]FIG. 2 shows the tree, 12 years old;

[0020]FIG. 3 shows the berries and leaves;

[0021]FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of the berries and leaves;

[0022]FIG. 5 shows the stem and leaves;

[0023]FIG. 6 shows a branch;

[0024]FIG. 7 shows the leaf upper surface; and

[0025]FIG. 8 shows the leaf lower surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

[0026] The following detailed description sets forth the characteristicsof the new cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics werecollected from asexual reproductions carried out in Barmstedt, Germany.The plant history was taken on a plant about ten years old, grown from a2 m rootball. The test plants were grown outdoors at about 8-10° C.nightime temperatures and color readings were taken outdoors.

[0027] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance were used.

PLANT

[0028] Habit and form of growth: Upright, pyramidal, bushy.

[0029] Plant vigor: Young plant grows 50-75 cm per year.

[0030] Plant height: 3.5 m after 15 years.

[0031] Plant width: 1 m.

STEM AND LENTICEL

[0032] Young stem (1 year old.):

[0033]Color.—189A with hint of 79A.

[0034]Texture.—Rough.

[0035] Mature stem (2-5 years old):

[0036]Color.—137A with hint of 139A.

[0037]Texture.—Rough.

[0038] Immature lenticel (1 year old):

[0039]Shape.—Elongated.

[0040]Position relative to stem surface.—Irregularly grouped.

[0041]Average length.—0.5 mm.

[0042]Average width.—0.2-0.4 mm.

[0043]Quantity.—3-8 per square inch.

[0044]Color.—146A.

[0045] Mature lenticel (2-3 years old):

[0046]Shape.—Nearly round.

[0047]Position relative to stem surface.—Irregularly grouped.

[0048]Average length.—1 mm.

[0049]Average width.—0.8 mm.

[0050]Quantity.—1-4 per square inch.

[0051]Color.—152B.

FOLIAGE

[0052] Margins: Serrated.

[0053] Spine quality and location: 10-18 spines at the margin, averageis 14.

[0054] Size of mature leaves:

[0055]Length.—6 cm.

[0056]Width.—3.5 cm.

[0057] Shape of mature leaves: Oval.

[0058] Juvenile leaves:

[0059]Upper surface.—Texture: Glossy. Color: 139A. Venation color: 143B.

[0060]Lower surface.—Texture: Rough. Color: 138B. Venation color: 138B.

[0061] Mature leaves:

[0062]Upper surface.—Texture: Glossy. Color: 139A. Venation color: 137C.

[0063]Lower surface.—Texture: Rough. Color: 144A. Venation color: 139B.

[0064] Petiole:

[0065]Length.—8-10 mm.

[0066]Diameter.—3 mm.

[0067]Color.—144A with hint of 139A.

[0068] Leaf arrangement: Helical around the twig.

FLOWERS

[0069] Habit: In clusters of 2 to 5 flowers.

[0070] Peduncle:

[0071]Texture.—Velvety, rough.

[0072]Size.—Length: 2 mm. Diameter: 3 mm.

[0073]Color.—157B changing to 157C as flowers open.

[0074] Calyx:

[0075]Diameter.—6-9 mm when fully open.

[0076]Texture.—Velvety, rough.

[0077] Buds:

[0078]Shape (prior to opening).—Spherical.

[0079]Color, upon opening.—157A.

[0080]Color changes during opening.—None.

[0081]Foliaceous appendages, color.—155A.

[0082] Blooms:

[0083]Petals.—Four, not imbricated.

[0084]Texture.—Upper surface: Rough. Lower surface: Rough.

[0085]Petal size.—Width: 6 mm. Length: 6 mm.

[0086]Shape of bloom.—Cupped.

[0087]Petal color.—Upper surface: 155A. Lower surface: 157A.

[0088] Fragrance: Lemony.

[0089] Persistence on plant: 5-7 days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

[0090] Stamens:

[0091]Number.—4.

[0092]Anther.—Shape: Oval. Length: 1 mm. Color: 1C.

[0093]Filament.—Length: 2 mm. Color: 156D.

[0094]Pollen.—Amount: 4. Color: 10C.

[0095] Pistils:

[0096]Quantity.—One.

[0097]Stigma.—Shape: Round. Color: 158C.

[0098] Ovaries:

[0099]Quantity.—One.

[0100]Size.—1-1.5 mm.

[0101]Color.—138D.

[0102] Berries:

[0103]Texture.—Glossy.

[0104]Color.—44A.

[0105]Diameter.—7-10 mm.

[0106]Persistance.—5-6 months.

[0107] Seeds:

[0108]Texture.—Rough.

[0109]Color.—165C.

[0110] Disease/pest resistance: Appears to be very disease and insectresistant, some susceptibility to wool louse.

[0111] Winter hardiness: Extremely hardy to −25° C. in snowless winterin north Germany.

[0112] Drought/heat tolerance: Resists temperatures up to 40° C.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct holly plant substantially as shown anddescribed.